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He continued his baths for two seasons, and would have kept on for the rest of his life, if a dreadful accident had not given him such a fear of the sea, that he would have risked doubling his circumference rather than expose himself again to the danger from which he had been saved only through the strength and courage of Mr. Liakos, a judge of the civil court. But for him, Mr.

Liakos sat listening to the noise, and tried to picture to himself the quiet old gentleman who had been out walking with his two daughters the night before. At last the commotion quieted down, and Mr. Mitrophanis came in with a frown on his face. "I have happened on an unlucky time for my call," thought the judge. "I suppose you come from Mr.

Plateas came to himself, with great difficulty, it is true, but he finally did come to himself; and there on the shore of the sea he made a double vow: never again to go into the water, and never to forget that he owed his life to Mr. Liakos. This vow he kept faithfully.

Plateas sat motionless, with mouth open and eyes fastened on those of his friend, who was still staring at the road. The judge's look showed that the object of his interest was coming nearer, but the professor did not dare to stir or utter a word. "Talk," whispered Mr. Liakos. "Continue the conversation." "But, my dear friend, what shall I say? You've driven every idea out of my head."

Well, we never get just what we want in this world, and a man's happiness depends after all on his own way of feeling and thinking." Mr. Plateas fancied this was philosophy, but, in fact, it was only a blind attempt to get rid of disagreeable thoughts. He could not forget the judge's evident dejection and vain effort to hide it. What if Mr. Liakos did want him to marry the plain sister!

Plateas rose, napkin in hand, and leaned over his friend's chair, eagerly following the words as the judge read aloud: "MY DEAR COUSIN, Bring your friend to my house this evening; the young lady will be there. Come early. "What did I tell you!" cried Mr. Liakos, joyfully. "Come, you must get ready." Mr. Plateas looked very serious; the idea of meeting the young girl made him nervous.

This sigh, or perhaps the mere idea of the professor in love, brought a smile to the judge's clouded face. "Why haven't you ever spoken to me about it?" continued Mr. Plateas. "Because I did not wish to bore you," replied Mr. Liakos. Then, touched by his friend's reproachful look, he made haste to add, "But now I will tell you everything, since you desire it."

Plateas stopped short, leaned his fat hand on the table to aid the gyration that he was about to make upon his stool, and was preparing for another effort to discover what could thus fascinate Mr. Liakos, when the judge, divining his companion's purpose, suddenly laid his hand on the professor's, and pressing it firmly, said in a low voice, but with a tone of authority: "Don't turn around!" Mr.

She was a woman of sense and experience, and could probably find some way out of their quandary. Mr. Liakos was on the point of going to his cousin, but he reflected that it would be a grave indiscretion to impart the secret to a third person without his friend's consent, and he felt too that it would be very weak in him not to perform loyally the duty that he had undertaken. Forward, then!

He stood there in the middle of the square, his arms hanging helplessly, and stared at the back of the retreating merchant. "Well, I must see Liakos." he said to himself. "But where shall I find him at this time of day?" Just then the clock on the Church of the Transfiguration struck twelve. Mr.